What do you have in your basement? Furniture? A TV or computer? Your vinyl record collection? As you read this, your sump pump is saving those items from getting destroyed in a flood. If the pump fails, there could be standing water in your basement within hours, or even minutes during a storm. It’s an important little machine!

Flooding is a constant risk for a basement, due to groundwater and drainage. Here is how your home defends against a flood:

Your home’s underground drainage system collects groundwater that would otherwise seep into cracks in your foundation.

The collected water is directed into the sump pit in your basement.

The sump pump automatically pumps out the water and empties the pit. (If the sump pump or discharge line isn’t working right, the water in the pit will continue to rise until it overflows.)

Here are 3 things you can do to make sure your sump pump doesn’t fail this spring:

April showers bring May flowers, but April showers bring lost power, too.

Install a water-powered backup sump pump, if you don’t have one already.

In the event of a power outage during a storm, your electricity-powered sump pump won’t be able to run, and the rain will cause groundwater to rise quickly. A water-powered backup pump will keep pumping out the groundwater, even when the power goes out. Peace of mind is worth it!

When it comes to sump pumps, age isn’t just a number.

If your sump pump is over 10 years old, replace it ASAP, even if it’s still working for now.

10 years is the typical lifespan of a sump pump. You might hesitate to replace a working pump, but your old worn-out sump pump failing during a heavy storm just isn’t worth the risk. Protect your valuable home and invest in a new sump pump right away.

For some added peace of mind, test it.

If you’re worried about whether your sump pump is working or not, here’s how you can test it:

(1) Remove the cover from your sump pit.

(2) Using a bucket, pour water into the pit until the sump pump kicks on and pumps the water out. If the pit fills up and the pump doesn’t automatically turn on, check to make sure the float switch isn’t stuck - otherwise, there’s something wrong with the pump itself, and you should call your plumber right away.

Our technicians are sump pump experts here at Universal Plumbing, and we offer 24/7 emergency service if your pump fails in the middle of the night. Keep our number on hand: 586-459-0040